The school start for summer borns . . . humph

[earlgreymarl]

How's the school start gone for those who have very recently turned 4?

In our area we were unable to a reception start if we deferred until he was at school age, so my end of August just turned 4 year old has started school full time this September.

Since starting, of course he is tired and although he is managing, it's like part of his brain has been wiped out - he doesn't listen, can't seem to get on with basic tasks like he used to, his attention span seems shorter and he isn't motivated / incentivised as before. I feel we have gone backwards - in fact I can't recall him being this way before!

The school he attends has a very laid back / confusing approach I feel and they spend just 10 minutes each day focusing on learning phonics, the rest of the time the children can pick what they do ( lego is the main option for my boy!) and there is little structure, it's all child led. For behavior, there is no good or bad, kids are "above or below the line" and are informed as such.

This all sounds chilled out and full of fun and freedom, but I am concerned that we will have to rely on time at home to get the key learning done to progress him and keep him up, when he is tired in the evenings or at the weekends. The school just waits until they are "ready" and apparently they are not concerned if a child doesn't read or write until age 7!

Even since starting school I feel we have already lowered expectations for him because of his young age compared to rest of the class and he will obviously choose to play given no direction, so he is kind of getting less help when he needs more. He is also a child that thrives when he knows what's going on, what's expected of him and some structure.

I don't know whether to go into some kind of learning overdrive at home or just take a step back completely as it all seems to be out of my control anyway.

It seems ridiculous to worry about the learning at home knowing they are messing round at school all day for most of the week at their prime time!

He is enjoying school and making friends which is good, I just don't know where my clever little boy who gets on with stuff has gone or what to do :( Perhaps I am expecting too much.

And I know that if he had started school next year, things now and the outlook for the future would be very different.

How's anyone else getting on?

Or anyone dealt with this in the past?

Thanks BikeRunSki that's of help.

Will be popping a load of chill pills and aiming to get the various homework tasks done with the minimum of fuss / time so he can just chill out!

From what I can tell we're in a more homework heavy Primary School than others with the homework requiring much parental involvement so I am probably feeling a bit resentful over that taking over the little time we have when it's mainly play in school and can't help thinking maybe it should be the other way round .

By the sounds of it should be ok and we'll all get used to it.

I so should not have gone on that mega cleaning weekend before he was born and then maybe he would have arrived in September as he was supposed too, ha ha!

Our reception classes have spent the last 3 weeks doing baseline assessments so things will be different from here on in anyway.

You sound quite confused and not very trusting of the staff.

What makes you think he isn't learning?
Learning through play is brilliant for summer born children.
It is only three weeks ( if England) into term. It will change during the year but isn't these initial weeks for settling children in so they relax and enjoy school. Isn't that the most important thing? If you are not enjoying something it is harder to learn.
Do you really think there is no structure to the activities? I'm sure the teacher who has spent a long time planning would beg to differ. The activities will have been put out with learning goals in mind. Water play can teach children about capacity, Lego can teach lots of skills including scanning ( a reading skill later on) and recognition of size, colour and shape.
Do you mean that your child has been given homework or is this what other parents have told you? Homework is to provide opportunities to revise what has been taught in school so a child becomes confident and it reinforces the learning.
Children are always tired in the first weeks as it is like starting a new job. Once they become settled in the new environment they will be less tired. Cuddles, snacks, favourite foods and early bedtimes are what is needed.

Ditsy4 you sound quite confused and rather defensive. I said "little structure" not "no structure" and at no point did I say that I think he isn't learning! That would be ridiculous. I didn't fall out of the sky yesterday, I know that children learn through play and that it is important that they enjoy the school start.

I was merely interested in how others have found the school start, especially the very young ones that are almost a year off age 5 as it's such a huge thing. I am also interested in the balance of what gets done at school vs at home and I'm not alone in this.

It's a fair enough thing to ask and schools obviously vary a lot in their approach. And yes, he has been given various homework to do (not just reading) and I'm sure of that, it's not something I've picked up as a rumour from other parents .

I don't have a problem with the teachers. I trust they are not as antagonistic as you though and can read.

Have a lovely evening.